This section is continually expanding. As I receive questions that might be of interest to others I will include my responses here.

Wouldn't a "big name" real estate company be more successful at selling my home? Brokerages don't sell property, individual agents do. Effective marketing is not dictated by company prestige. To be totally candid, a large brokerage's primary function is supplying its agents with a work environment, and providing oversight to monitor and manage the agents' work activities, not property sales per se. The oversight of a large brokerage can be valuable to the consumer considering using a fledgling agent, who lacks experience, but otherwise is of no particular advantage.

Do I need to have loan pre-approval before you'll take me out to look at a property? Not necessarily. I understand that sometimes prospective buyers need to actually go looking at property a couple of times — to become confident that they might actually be able to find something that they'd like— before having the motivation to complete a loan application.

Should I price my home higher than I really want to allow room for negotiation?Pricing a property more than 5% above where it may be expected to ultimately sell is unadvisable. Properties generate the highest level of interest during the first few weeks on the market. If a home is priced too far above market value the potential buyers who might be most interested may not even know about it — buyers typically do not spend time looking at properties that are priced much beyond what they are willing to pay or can afford.

My property is not like anything else in the neighborhood, so how do I determine the right price?There are many ways of establishing reasonable value. My familiarity with sales across a broad range of neighborhoods has particular usefulness in such an instance. Rather than looking just at neighborhood sales and making adjustments for size and condition, I consider the unique features your home offers, the sort of buyer that it might appeal to andthe alternatives from such a buyer's point of view, comparing your home to others with similar appeal that have sold and that are currently on the market.

What is the difference between a real estate agent and a realtor?All active Realtors are either brokers or salespersons, but not all brokers or salespersons are Realtors. A REALTOR® is a member of local, state and national professional trade associations and, as such, has access to a vast array of educational programs, research and resources. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics, developed by the National Association of REALTORS® and pledge to provide fair treatment for all parties involved, protect the right of individuals to own property and keep abreast of changes in real estate practice through continuing education and interaction with other professionals. The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® has served as the unsurpassed proponent of integrity, professional standards and private property rights fortification within the real estate industry in California since 1905.

What's the difference between an Agent and a Broker?A real estate salesperson's license is obtained by taking specific coursework and passing a state exam on real estate law and practice. Then, in order to work at representing buyers or sellers, a real estate Agent must be associated with and supervised by a real estate Broker. After some years of experience, a salesperson may opt to become a Broker by completing more course work and passing the state Broker's exam. Upon obtaining a broker's license, a real estate Agent may continue working in another's brokerage in a similar capacity as before (but now referred to as a broker associate or associate broker) or he or she may start their own brokerage or buy a franchise and put other salespersons or broker licensees to work.

Questions? Contact Sharon:

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